Chilling drone footage shows the extent of the crash, which destroyed 23 houses, with one eyewitness saying it "killed entire families".

The death toll has now risen to 38 after bodies were pulled from the wreckage.

A Kyrgyzstan official has told AFP that a "pilot error" caused the crash and local media reporting that looters have descended to plunder through the wreckage with one man detained by police for pilfering two kettles.

One eyewitness said: "There's nothing left of the houses, people were killed with their whole family, their children. Many people were sleeping."

One nine year old boy reportedly left the family home early for school in a neighbouring village.

However, after seeing the plane come down he reportedly ran back to his home to find his entire family had been killed.

One heartbreaking video shows a woman, who reportedly lost her son in the crash, crying at the scene.

Woman in tears after learning her son had died in the TK6491 crash

YouTube / AKIpress news

A heartbreaking video shows a woman, who reportedly lost her son in the crash, crying at the scene

AP:Associated Press

One woman appears to break down as she takes in what has happened

Injured victim Baktygul Kubatova spoke to AKIpress how her experience of the devastating crash

"The house was collapsing on us and I was worrying about my children, that they could die.

"We were sleeping at home as usual. I woke up after I saw something red in the window.

"I had no time to realise what happened. Then it turned out that the ceiling and the walls of the house was crashing.

"With fear, I covered my son with my hand to protect him from the ruins.

"We could not move and I started crying for help to get out of there.

"The house was collapsing over and over again. My child was crying.

"The neighbours came to help. My daughter received injuries, as she was sleeping near the window, while me and my son were sleeping on the floor.

"As soon as we got out of the house, we immediately ran to the neighbours to wait for my brother there.

"But all other houses were on fire, all of them were destroyed, everything was damaged as if it was an earthquake....

"Thank God that we were just injured and stayed alive."

EPA

Emotional relatives of people killed talking with the armed forces

Getty Images

Local residents react to the devastation caused as they walk through the crash site

EPA

Two locals react to the scene of the crash

Ruptly: The Video News Agency

Chilling drone footage of the scene shows the devastating damage caused by the plane crash

Ruptly: The Video News Agency

The body of the plane and plumes of smoke can be seen in the aerial footage

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Kyrgyz officials initially identified the Boeing 747-400 as belonging to Turkish Airlines, but Turkish cargo operator ACT Airlines said the jet was theirs.

A statement said: "ACT Airlines is deeply saddened to report that an accident happened during the flight from Hong Kong to Bishkek by Boeing 747-400 TC-MCL registered cargo aircraft at 01:20 Z. The cause of the accident is unknown at this time and further details will be provided as they become available."

Muhammed Svarov, a spokesman for the country's emergency services, said the total number of dead "could be bigger".

He said: "Major work is underway. The damage to infrastructure in the village is significant."

Over 40 firefighters and 9 firefighting trucks are operating at the crash site.

A government commission has been set up to examine the causes of the tragedy.

Wreckage is spread across an area of one hectare.

A national day of mourning for the crash victims is to be announced by the Krygyzstan authorities.

"In light of the plane crash that left over 30 people dead, Kyrgyzstan will announce the national day of mourning. President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev will sign the corresponding decree," said the presidential press service .

Reuters

Members of the rescue teams are seen next to body bags of victims at the crash site

Barcroft Media

Rescuers work at the Turkish cargo plane crash site where 'the damage to infrastructure in the village is significant'

Video of radar charts shows final journey of ACT Flight

Barcroft Media

A resident of Dacha-Suu said the plane fell "right on the homes" where residents were sleeping

AP:Associated Press

The cargo plane reportedly belonged to ACT airlines which released a statement saying it was 'deeply saddened' by what had happened

Manas airport has been closed and flights cancelled until evening at the earliest, airport authorities said.

The government said in a statement that Deputy Prime Minister Moukhammetkali Aboulgaziev visited the scene, accompanied by the Ministers of Emergency Situations and Transport.

A national day of mourning will be held on Friday, authorities have said.